Newsletter

Posted May 2, 2012 12:06 am

Across the nation

NEW YORK

Newt Gingrich thanked supporters Tuesday, a day before he officially leaves the Republican presidential race, and pledged to work hard to prevent the “genuine disaster” he says would come from re-electing President Barack Obama.

Gingrich says in a video message posted on his website he will close his campaign today.

“Your help was vital,” he tells supporters in the nearly two-minute video.

BRIEFLY ...

● WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration is now providing workers with online statements of the estimated benefits they will get when they retire, replacing the paper ones the agency used to mail out. The agency announced Tuesday that workers 18 and older can now go online, to www.ssa.gov , where they can create a secure account to see their information.

● DIXON, Ill. — Federal prosecutors say in an indictment that a former financial officer for the small northern Illinois city of Dixon stole millions more in public funds than an initial investigation had uncovered. Tuesday’s indictment accuses Rita Crundwell of stealing more than $53 million from the city since 1990.

● SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee police are apologizing after arresting a man for using a $50 bill they thought was fake but that turned out to be real. Police in Shelbyville thought the bill was counterfeit after a convenience store clerk called them. The clerk said a marker used to detect false money didn’t show the bill was real.